Delayed Breast Reconstruction

Dr. Becker is recognized both nationally and internationally as an expert in breast reconstructive surgery. He has lectured and published extensively on the subject.

Dr. Becker is best known as the inventor of the adjustable breast implant, otherwise known as the Becker Expander Mammary prosthesis. The Becker Expander implant functions as a tissue expander, and then converts to a breast implant once the tissues have been expanded sufficiently.

Traditionally, a tissue expander is placed at the first surgery and used to expand the overlying skin. It is then removed at a second surgery and replaced with a breast implant. Thanks to the invention of the Becker expander implant, a second operation is no longer necessary to replace the expander with an implant- it can all be done in one surgery.

The Becker expander implant has become one of the most widely used implants for breast reconstruction. It is used throughout the U.S., at institutions such as the Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic. It is also used in other countries throughout the world.

The results of reconstruction following mastectomy are directly related to the mastectomy technique that is performed. The techniques used for mastectomy are dependent on the nature of the condition being treated and the philosophy of the treating surgery.

Techniques available are:

• Simple mastectomy - An elliptical incision is made across the breast, removing the nipple areolar complex with the surrounding skin. The incision is closed with a straight scar running across the breast.
• Skin sparing mastectomy - A circular incision is made around the areola. The breast tissue is removed through this incision. The circular incision is closed as a purse string, usually leaving a small puckered scar.
• Areolar preserving incision - The nipple is excised together with the breast tissue through a horizontal incision through the areola. The areolar skin is later used to reconstruct the nipple.
• Subcutaneous mastectomy - An incision is made at the inferior edge of the areola or in the breast fold. The breast tissue is excised, leaving the nipple areolar complex intact. Tissue is usually removed from the base of the nipple and checked with frozen section prior to closure.

Treatment of Complication Following Breast Reconstruction

Dr. Hilton Becker is a recognized expert on Breast Reconstruction. He has developed several adjustable breast implants and published numerous articles and book chapters on breast reconstruction complications and how to treat them.